Cato: Alpha in crosshairs of Phl lawyers, Italian TF
The rejection letters received by the visa applicants, who were provided bogus nulla osta or work permits by Alpha Assistenza, were genuine, Mascia pointed out
Daily TribuneThe rejection letters received by the visa applicants, who were provided bogus nulla osta or work permits by Alpha Assistenza, were genuine, Mascia pointed out
Elmer Cato
The Italian government has created a task force to assist the Filipino victims of Alpha Assistenza SRL, an immigration consultancy firm that allegedly duped over 400 Filipinos, the Philippine Consulate General in Milan announced Monday.
According to Consul General Elmer Cato, the task force was created on 4 September after meeting with Prefect Renato Saccone, Milan's highest-ranking Italian federal government representative.
Cato said he requested Saccone's assistance in verifying the authenticity of the Italian work permits the consulate gathered from complainants and witnesses in Italy and the Philippines.
After the documents were determined to be spurious, Cato said the Prefect immediately created the task force that would assist complainants in filing the appropriate cases against those involved.
The task force will work closely with lawyers provided by the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers.
Cato said the consulate expects several Filipinos to formally file their complaints this week.
Last week, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega flew to Milan to meet with the victims who accused the Philippine consulate general in Milan of ignoring their grievances. Cato has denied sitting on their complaints.
The development came as the Department of Justice vowed to deliver justice to the victims who were only after greener pastures in the European country.
Meanwhile, DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said the Filipino complainants in Italy and the Philippines will file separate charges against Alpha Assistenza SRL and another firm.
"Cases against them have yet to be filed, which is why our fellow Filipinos in the Philippines are asking for assistance from the DMW, as well as from our embassy and consulate there, to determine whether those who victimized them really have culpability," Cortez said in a public briefing.
"Because we are sure that those who defrauded them have partners in Italy. So we're working both ways to file cases in Italy and here in the Philippines," he added.
